Rookie Retrospective: Marc GasolMay 24, 2009In this of edition of our ďRookie RetrospectivesĒ series, weíll be looking at our first European player from the 2008 draft class, Marc Gasol. After an impressive international stint playing for now-defunct Akasvayu Girona of his native Spain, Gasol decided to make the jump to the NBA. With his rights traded from the Lakers to the Grizzlies during the famous Pau Gasol deal, Marc was expected to bring frontcourt toughness and an inside scoring presence to Memphis' thin front line. Throughout his rookie campaign, Gasol proved his worth as an NBA starter and was named Second Team All-Rookie at season's end. Although he may not possess the star potential of some other rookies we've covered, the Grizzlies will expect Gasol to become a major cog during the next couple seasons as he continues to adapt to the NBA.

Then:"The young Gasol is a rather skilled player and delivers some nice intensity. He can play in the low post, although he could take better advantage of his big body and improve his jump-hook, he has a decent mid-range jumper, can pass the ball, understands the game and can even put the ball on the floor, although itís not that much of a help considering his limited quickness."
-2007 Spanish King's Cup: NBA Draft Prospects - 2/13/07

"On the negative side, this Final Four again exposed that he could certainly use a better left hand. He loses space and effectiveness going for an orthodox right-handed short shot instead of a left-handed jump-hook whenever he attacks a rival from the left."
-Roundup: Marc Gasol, Substance Over Spectacle - 4/19/07

Now:
After a successful European career in which he was named MVP of the Spanish ACB and contributed during his countryís Olympic run, Gasol was expected to provide the Memphis Grizzlies with some much needed frontcourt depth and toughness. Throughout his rookie season, he answered this call by developing into a reliable post presence, and was in serious consideration for the ROY award. According to Synergy Sports Technology, single covered post-ups accounted for 43% of his overall attempts, and Gasol has shown a surprising amount of finesse around the rim in these situations, although his statistics are relatively pedestrian (NBA - 49% FG%, 0.98 PPP).

Gasol received the ball on the left block about twice as often as he did on the right one, and he's proven to be more effective from the left side of the floor (NBA - 48% FGM, 0.98 PPP) than the right side (NBA - 40% FGM, 0.83 PPP). When comparing Gasol's NBA post preferences with his situational stats from his previous season with Akasvayu Girona, there are some notable differences. For one, he didn't seem to prefer one block over the other in Europe; however, he did prefer his baseline shoulder on both blocks and scored very effectively with a variety of hook shots and wheel moves. Perhaps since he faces fewer double teams in the NBA and has a very small physical advantage over most NBA defenders, the Grizzlies feel Gasol maximizes his scoring ability when turning to the middle of the floor and utilizing a sweeping hook rather than a baseline hook shot from a tough angle.

Regardless of which block Gasol makes the initial catch, he displays a sweeping hook shot across the lane that's extremely difficult to defend and really showcases his interior touch. If he shoots this hook shot going toward the rim, it's an effective play; however, sometimes he'll get knocked off balance and let it fly as he's fading away from about 12-15 feet. In these cases, the hook rarely falls, and Gasol's teammates are often left out of position to hit the offensive glass. When he senses a lot of defensive resistance when he dribbles to set up the sweeping hook, he needs to look to kick the ball to a teammate on the opposite wing. It will save the possession and give him a chance to repost and work against his man in a much more efficient way.

The one glaring weakness in Gasol's NBA post statistics is his inability to score when turning baseline from the right block. On the left block, Gasol utilizes a surprisingly quick wheel move to seal his man inside and get to the rim. If he developed this move for the right baseline, Gasol would have one solid "go-to" and counter move for each block, making him a more reliable inside offensive presence at the NBA level.

Part Two: Mid-Range Shooting

Then:"Indeed his shooting range extends out to the [European] three-point line, while he greatly combines his scoring power with his passing game, not really looking for definitive passes, but feeding his teamís offensive flow by distributing the ball from both the high and low post."
-Scouting the NBA Rights-Held Players at the 2008 Copa del Rey - 2/19/08

Ē Although we have dealt it before, it deserves to be stressed again the way he contributes to his teamís offensive fluidity, showing a high basketball IQ and excellent court vision--always being aware of his teammatesí position. That fluidity comes both in the set offense, particularly they way Gasol ships the ball quickly to the weak side, and in transition, as heís automatic sending the ball to a guard after a defensive rebound to ignite the offense.Ē
-Roundup: Marc Gasol, Substance Over Spectacle - 4/19/07

Now:
Although Gasol has an impressive amount of finesse around the rim, it really does not translate into his midrange game. He ranks 3rd in true shooting percentage among rookies at an impressive 59%, but this comes mainly from his inside finishes and the fact that he's a relatively efficient free throw shooter at 73%. Through one NBA season, he's done a solid job of getting to the free throw line averaging 4.6 FTA/G - a number that will improve as his role increases within the Grizzlies offense. From outside the lane, Gasol is not yet a great mid-range shooter (41% FG between 17 feet and the NBA 3-point line, 0.88 PPP) and may have some issues with his mechanics.

In analyzing film, the problem which stands out most is his lack of knee bend and elevation on his jump shot. Given his size, Gasol doesn't need to elevate over defenders, but a little more knee bend and lift from his legs would provide him with a better shot trajectory and more fluidity on his jumper, since heís compensated for his lack of lift by cocking his wrist back a bit excessively, which hurts his consistency as well. Right now, his release point remains a bit low, which may be a direct result of this lack of lift. Individual work could improve Gasol's shooting numbers even more and allow the Grizzlies to space the floor very effectively next year, especially if they pick up another post presence this offseason.

Part Three: Decision-Making

Then:"The current leader in efficiency rating in the ACB League, Marc Gasol has built a pretty mistake-free style of game that helps him to emerge as a statistical standout. Heís long, very strong, nicely skilled, and very smart playing the game."
-Scouting the NBA Rights-Held Players at the 2008 Copa del Rey - 2/19/08

"Although we have dealt it before, it deserves to be stressed again the way he contributes to his teamís offensive fluidity, showing a high basketball IQ and excellent court vision--always being aware of his teammatesí position."
-Roundup: Marc Gasol, Substance Over Spectacle - 4/19/07

Now:
Watching Gasol operate in the half-court really showcases his decision-making ability and high basketball IQ. He's rarely impatient when he catches the ball on the block, and has the ability to set up his initial post move with a series of fakes or crab dribbles. He hasn't faced many double teams in the NBA, but Gasol showed solid post passing throughout his career in the Spanish ACB League. His turnover ratio is approximately the same as it was in Europe, but one would expect this ratio to be lower considering his diminished role in the Grizzlies offense. As his responsibilities increase in their halfcourt sets, Gasol will need to ensure that he protects the basketball and values each possession for a Memphis team that turns the ball over quite frequently compared to most of the League.

AP

Part Four: Rebounding & Athleticism

Then:"In short, weíre talking about an absolute stud at this level. Itís still not 100% clear that heís athletic enough to play substantial minutes in todayís NBA, especially early on, but to land a player this big with this kind of skill level and basketball IQ is an absolute coup. He might be the best big man in the ACB these days, which is saying an awful lot."
-Blogging Through Europe (Part 2: Belgium) - 11/28/07

"How much will Gasolís lack of athleticism get exposed in the NBA? I guess thatís the question every single decision maker will be asking himself when it comes to evaluating the big Spanish center. With much more individual oriented defenses, itís a very legit concern. In the ACB League, he relies on his excellent positioning to emerge as a very solid defensive presence. Itís not going to be the same in the NBA."
-Roundup: Marc Gasol, Substance Over Spectacle - 4/19/07

Now:
Just finished with his rookie season, Marc Gasol has shown the ability to rebound at a decent rate on the NBA level. And although he possesses respectable numbers in terms of per game averages (7.4 RPG - 3rd among rookies), his 9.8 rebounds per-40 pace adjusted rate is rather mediocre for a gifted seven-footer seeing extensive minutes. His average production can be attributed to his lack of explosiveness and strength, as well as his physical conditioning. He has struggled against much more physical and athletic NBA post players, and because he's sometimes lazy in getting to the weakside block on shot opportunities, his defensive rebounding numbers are a little lower than the Grizzlies had hoped. By working to improve his conditioning to help his interior positioning just before shots are fired, Gasol should see his rebounding numbers increase next season, particularly if the Grizzlies can surround him with another interior scorer this offseason.

On the offensive glass, Gasol has been notably more effective than he was during his years with Akasvayu Girona. As a member of the Grizzlies, offensive rebounds account for 10% of Gasol's offensive possessions, compared to just 5% last season in Europe. This increased production is due to the fact that Gasol spends the majority of his time roaming the paint and plays a diminished role in the Grizzlies offense compared to what he was expected to do on the offensive end of the floor with Akasvayu Girona. Regardless, his willingness to crash the boards helped him immensely this season.

Part Five: Defense

Then:"He wasn't really a go-to guy for Girona on the offensive end (mainly because of Real Madridís double-teaming defense), but especially he doesn't make a great impact on the defensive end. His limited mobility gets exploited in pick-and-roll situations that the opponents throw at him; he's not a great intimidator, he allows smaller opponents to shoot over him; and given his superb size, he's not the best rebounder around."
-Scouting the NBA Rights-Held Players at the 2008 Copa del Rey - 2/19/08

Now:
Much of what we documented about Gasol during his European career has held true during his rookie season in the NBA. Given his lack of vertical explosiveness and lateral quickness, he actually creates a surprising number of defensive turnovers (1.0 STLPG, 1.5 BLKPG); however, he still struggles whenever forced to guard perimeter oriented big men or the pick-and-roll. When guarding ball screens, the Grizzlies seem to hedge most frequently, which often results in Gasol getting caught outside of the three point arc and failing to rotate successfully back to his man. Gasol must improve upon his conditioning to improve his lateral quickness and pick-and-roll defense to avoid becoming a defensive liability moving forward. If he fails in this department and/or the Grizzlies don't improve their interior defense this offseason by surrounding him with more talent, we can expect to see Memphis continue their defensive struggles through another season.

In instances where Gasol is defending the interior, he holds his ground well, although he rarely makes highlight-reel defensive stops. Since he's a step slow, he's a victim of quick-footed bigs possessing great wheel or seal moves which pin him on the backside of the offensive player. And although he'll never really be the type of intimidating, explosive defender the Grizzlies desperately need, Gasol still shows good fundamentals to counter the offensive skill sets of more talented NBA players and keep them out of the lane.

Help side defense is the area in which Gasol must improve his defensive game the most. As we previously wrote, he often allows smaller defenders to shoot over him and lacks lateral quickness - both of which usually equate to subpar defense. Gasol also tends to play lackadaisically off the ball, rarely knocking down cutters and looking to aggressively box out on when shots goo up. If he improves on his work ethic and hustle, we should see him develop into a respectable NBA defender - particularly if he increases his tenacity against more athletic players. Being a member of a struggling defensive system like Memphis' certainly hurts Gasol's numbers, but the addition of another interior presence this offseason should help the team's defensive play.

Part Six: Intangibles

Then:"As usual, he didnít make much noise, nor did he capture the headlines in his teamís victory in the FIBA EuroCup. But he was again an important foundation in Akasvayuís game. Gasol has emerged as a guy you can count on in every game, whether your routine regular season visit or a crucial appointment such as the EuroCup Final Four."
-Roundup: Marc Gasol, Substance Over Spectacle - 4/19/07

Now:
As we previously documented, Gasol was a steady staple of his European club and consistently produced on even the biggest stages. This consistency has translated to the NBA, where Gasol's per month averages remained relatively constant for the entire NBA season - something that's unheard of for most rookies adapting to an 82-game season. Throughout the course of his rookie campaign, it seemed like he earned his teammates' trust, as they began to feed him more in the low post. If he can continue to develop his game and lead by example for the Grizzlies' young nucleus, we might see a very exciting team out of Memphis in the next few seasons, especially when they get him some help down low to better utilize his skill set in their system as a complementary player. [Read Full Article]Scouting the NBA Rights-Held Players at the 2008 Copa del ReyFebruary 19, 2008The current leader in efficiency rating in the ACB League, Marc Gasol has built a pretty mistake-free style of game that helps him to emerge as a statistical standout. Heís long, very strong, nicely skilled, and very smart playing the game. A menace in the low post, he shows solid footwork, a decent jump-hook and a very nice turnaround jumper. Indeed his shooting range extends out to the three-point line, while he greatly combines his scoring power with his passing game, not really looking for definitive passes, but feeding his teamís offensive flow by distributing the ball from both the high and low post.

In spite of all that, his nice effort in the quarterfinal game wasn't enough for Akasvayu Girona to overcome an extremely solid Real Madrid team. Despite being regularly double-teamed, Gasol managed to amass 19 points, most of them coming off continuations towards the basket, and other off-ball stuff near the rim. The attention he delivered from Real Madrid defense didn't allow him to produce much in one-on-one plays in the low post, but he still connected on two thunderous one-handed dunks from there, one of them after capturing the baseline with an excellent spin move where he showed nice footspeed.

However, Gasol's great statistical production doesn't always necessarily reflect a dominating performance on the floor. Indeed, it didn't in this Copa. He wasn't really a go-to guy for Girona on the offensive end (mainly because of Real Madridís double-teaming defense, that's true), but especially he doesn't make a great impact on the defensive end. His limited mobility gets exploited in pick-and-roll situations that the opponents throw at him; he's not a great intimidator, he allows smaller opponents to shoot over him; and given his superb size, he's not the best rebounder around.

Still, Pau's younger brother is one of the most promising centers in Europe, and probably an underrated piece -by the American media- in the recent blockbuster trade that involved both brothers. Anyway, he doesn't seem to fit too well with the current Memphis Grizzlies game style, but he might be a nice asset to work in a trade in the near future. [Read Full Article]Blogging Through Europe (Part 2: Belgium)November 28, 2007Gasol on the other hand looks like an absolute steal for the Lakers, having drafted him in the late second round (#48) this past June. His skill level is looking better and better these days, knocking down a 3-pointer calmly, hitting a pretty turnaround jumper, and doing a terrific job moving off the ball and creating space for his post-mate Vroman to operate. Heís a team player who really knows how to pass the ball and is looking much more comfortable in his own skin than we ever remembered him. He also utilized his size very nicely both on the glass and inside the paint, making his presence felt here and altering quite a few Charleroi shots. In short, weíre talking about an absolute stud at this level. Itís still not 100% clear that heís athletic enough to play substantial minutes in todayís NBA, especially early on, but to land a player this big with this kind of skill level and basketball IQ is an absolute coup. He might be the best big man in the ACB these days, which is saying an awful lot. [Read Full Article]Roundup: Marc Gasol, Substance Over SpectacleApril 19, 2007As usual, he didnít make much noise, nor did he capture the headlines in his teamís victory in the FIBA EuroCup. But he was again an important foundation in Akasvayuís game. Gasol has emerged as a guy you can count on in every game, whether your routine regular season visit or a crucial appointment such as the EuroCup Final Four. He did well in the semifinal, with 9 points and 6 rebounds as his team routed MMT Estudiantes. Something more was needed in the final against Azovmash, and something more he delivered: 12 points, 5 rebounds and 2 assists, scoring some clutch points in the final minutes of the game to build a decisive lead in the score.

Skill wise, Marc stuck to his usual repertoire. If anything, he surprised in the final putting the ball on the floor with his right hand to attack his rival, and eventually got a trip to the free-throw line. Obviously his limited quickness is what prevents Gasol from using this kind of option more often, as he enjoys nice ball-handling skills for a seven footer. On the negative side, this Final Four again exposed that he could certainly use a better left hand. He loses space and effectiveness going for an orthodox right-handed short shot instead of a left-handed jump-hook whenever he attacks a rival from the left. At least heís nicely developing the right-handed jumphook. He will certainly need it to overcome big athletic defenders at the next level while playing in the low post.

Although we have dealt it before, it deserves to be stressed again the way he contributes to his teamís offensive fluidity, showing a high basketball IQ and excellent court vision--always being aware of his teammatesí position. That fluidity comes both in the set offense, particularly they way Gasol ships the ball quickly to the weak side, and in transition, as heís automatic sending the ball to a guard after a defensive rebound to ignite the offense.

How much will Gasolís lack of athleticism get exposed in the NBA? I guess thatís the question every single decision maker will be asking himself when it comes to evaluating the big Spanish center. With much more individual oriented defenses, itís a very legit concern. In the ACB League, he relies on his excellent positioning to emerge as a very solid defensive presence. Itís not going to be the same in the NBA. Still, his size, smarts and nice skill set might draw him a first round spot come draft night. [Read Full Article]Marquee Matchup: Marc Gasol vs. Tiago SplitterMarch 25, 2007It wasnít a matter of this game alone, but Marc Gasol is a very reliable player with an excellent basketball IQ. Heís one of those guys who always seems to be in the right place and rarely forces plays. He will pull the trigger if he sees a clear option; otherwise, he prefers to pass the ball, which he does really well. It was pretty obvious in this game.

Standing over seven feet, Gasol displays an excellent combination of strength and aggressiveness to operate in the lane. As we saw against Tau, he establishes and holds his position on a regular basis, becoming a serious threat both in terms of scoring and passing, which often ultimately ends up unbalancing the entire opposing defensive scheme. Heís not the most skilled low post guy around, but he uses his body very well and stays physical on his match-up. Heís steadily gaining accuracy with his right-handed hook, although as he showed in this game, he doesnít seem to have much ability finishing with his left and prefers to go for the turnaround jumper. Indeed, he has some range and decent accuracy with his shot, even if he didnít put it on display in this game.

Sometimes he gives up a decent scoring option and prefers to pass the ball, usually looking for an open teammate on the perimeter. Gasol is not one of these impressive post passers a la Divac or Sabonis. You will rarely see him delivering flashy assists; indeed, despite his excellent passing performance against Tau, he only added one assist to his stat-sheet. Actually, thatís more or less his average. Heís more of a passer within the flow of the game, showing a quick mind, a good basketball IQ and very nice court awareness. His passes might result in open baskets, but not necessarily for the man receiving the ball, but perhaps after the next pass.

The downside of the aforementioned physical strength for Gasol is his well-known poor conditioning and lack of athleticism. Ever since he came back from Memphis almost four years ago (apparently the Tennessee diet wasnít too keen on him), he has steadily improved his conditioning, and even if he canít be considered an athletic player, his mobility has significantly improved, even exceeding some expectations. Still, his lack of quickness eventually gets exploited in extended half-court sets, when his opponent takes him out of the paint or in pick-and-roll situations. Gasol makes up as much as heís able to with very nice positioning and good use of his body. Despite the few rejections he had on Tau players, heís not much of a shot-blocker (averaging one per game) due to his limited athleticism. Still, his positioning, good hands and effort reaps a nice amount of rebounds for him every game

Will this make the cut in the NBA? It very well could, although on a nightly basis it would also depend on which particular rivals he faces. Anyway, this game has only solidified his draft stock, and the way heís playing in the worldís toughest domestic league outside the NBA could make teams take a long look at him at the late first round. [Read Full Article]2007 Spanish King's Cup: NBA Draft ProspectsFebruary 13, 2007His team lost in quarterfinals, meaning he only played one game, where he was shorthanded by foul trouble, limiting his minutes to barely 22 before fouling out. Despite that, Marc Gasol still had a nice showing. We saw the same reliable guy that has been shining all season long for the successful Akasvayu Girona, an intimidating presence on the defensive end and a solid post threat on the offensive side. Teaming up with the rest of Gironaís inside game, Gasol did a nice job slowing down Joventutís big men, taking advantage of his big 7-1 body and nice positioning, while managing not to get exposed by his lack of athleticism. When it came to showing his offensive repertoire, we saw him overpowering a rival while banging in the low post to get two easy points, moving off the ball to get open looks in the paint (on pick and roll plays) or distributing the ball from the low post-- delivering two excellent assists to teammates placed close to the basket after reacting to a defensive rotation. He finished the game with 7 points, 2 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 steals.

Marc doesnít impress with his potential; heís a below average athlete by NBA standards, lacking quickness and leaping ability. The guy is just a good player, plain and simple. Considering heís 7-1 and a very strong guy, to think about the possibility of him going undrafted is out of the picture, while the first round shouldnít be an impossible task, even if his most likely outcome at this point seems to be somewhere in the early second round. [Read Full Article]NBA Draft Intrigue at the 2006 World ChampionshipSeptember 6, 2006Marc Gasolís surprising contribution off the bench for the Spanish squad. Felipe Reyesí injury forced coach HernŠndez to use him, and ďBig MarcĒ has answered with a very steady performance, displaying intensity, excellent defense (for example, he successfully battled Sofoklis Schortsianitis in the final) and nice fundamentals near the basket. He still shows a significant lack of athleticism NBA wise, but this is certainly an upgrade after spending an entire season sitting on F.C.Barcelonaís bench. [Read Full Article]FIBA World Championship Preview: Group BAugust 12, 2006Just a few weeks ago, nobody would have expected that Marc Gasol could make the final roster of the Spanish squad. After all, he hasnít been anything else than a very marginal player at Winterthur F.C.Barcelona this last season. However, the injury of Fran VŠzquez opened a spot in the National Teamís roster that coach Pepu HernŠndez decided to fill with a big body that can add some size to the frontcourt.

If thereís one thing that Marc definitely has, its size. Heís not only big in height, but heís a strong guy who--why not come out and say it--is a bit overweight. Heís doing a good job trying to eliminate all the baby fat he gained when he joined his brother Pau in Memphis during his first two seasons with the Grizzlies (ĎBig Marcí, some fans joke). While he is improving his athleticism hand in hand with working on his conditioning, Marc will never be a very athletic player. Heís a bit slow and heavy footed, and thatís why his NBA potential is limited.

However, the young Gasol is a rather skilled player and delivers some nice intensity. He can play in the low post, although he could take better advantage of his big body and improve his jump-hook, he has a decent mid-range jumper, can pass the ball, understands the game and can even put the ball on the floor, although itís not that much of a help considering his limited quickness. Even if not the most aggressive guy around, heís rather tough. On defense, he lacks a bit of mobility, but he doesnít show bad positioning, has a good attitude, and can eventually provide excellent size down low if needed (only his brother Pau has center size in the Spanish squad).

Still, heís a bit immature, and needs some seasoning at the top level, something that he hasnít been able to get in Barcelona and will search for next season at Girona, where he has been loaned for two seasons. He will need to work hard to make his way into the rotation, though; we're talking about a team with high expectations, with Svetislav Pesic as head coach and Dalibor Bagaric already signed for the center position.

With the Spanish National Team, heís not expected to see a good deal of action. Indeed, with only three big men besides him in the roster (Pau Gasol, Jorge Garbajosa and Felipe Reyes), itís highly likely that Carlos Jimťnez, a small forward, will be moved to the power forward spot in the important games if necessary. [Read Full Article]Euroleague Preview: Group BNovember 17, 2004Marc Gasol, Pau's brother, is trying to make a name for himself in Barcelona. He's a very skilled big man with a nice stroke and some good post moves. When we say big, we fully mean it. This kid has really suffered from being overweight in the past, and although he has been working on improving his conditioning since he came back from Memphis one year ago (he spent there two useless seasons at an American high school, apparently more concerned about eating fast food than improving his game), he still has a long way to go. F.C.Barcelona's front office apparently trusts him a lot to give him the role of first center off the bench, especially considering how injury prone Roberto DueŮas is. So it's a wonderful chance for him to show his abilities in one of the main European powerhouses. Sadly, he will start the competition sidelined because of an injury in his right foot. The truth is that it remains to be seen if his underdeveloped body can deal with such a demanding level. [Read Full Article]